Saturday, September 20, 2008, marked the 11 th annual ISR/Oldenburg NA mare and foal inspection hosted by Virginia Tech. Over the past decade, the University has become the largest breeder in North America with ISR/Oldenburg NA, with two stallions and more than 30 broodmares currently active in the registry. Approximately 10-15 foals are presented each year by Virginia Tech, and the University has bred 30 Premium Foals and 8 Site Champions from 2005 to 2008. The students eagerly look forward to the annual inspection, which has been fully incorporated into the academic curriculum. In 2008 nearly 100 students helped with the day's events! Generally the Virginia Tech site is well-attended, and this year was no exception. Thirty-four horses were presented; nine mares, eight colts, 13 fillies, two yearlings and a pair of two-year-olds. Virginia Tech was pleased to welcome both Ekkehard Brysch and Christian Schacht as inspectors on the day, and their detailed explanations of scores and wonderful interaction with the spectators and students was appreciated by all who attended.

Several mares earned scores over 100 but did not quite make it to the Premium Mare book. These included the lovely Thoroughbred mare My Martina (Midway Circle/Kanumera/Prince Nerida) , owned by Leslie Allen, the fluid-moving Arabian mare Tsabrena (Tsabre Bey/Vanitys Jamil/Gazort) owned by Rebecca Jaronski and the Oldenburg mare Galen (Gallarius/Edelweiss/Cindamoud xx) , owned by Laura Krohn). High score mare of the day was the Thoroughbred Fast Femme (Jovial Turn/Halo/Forli) , who earned a score of 102 points and is owned by the Virginia Tech Foundation.

Twenty-one foals were presented, by sires Arrian, Baladin d'Oc, Ballywhim An Luan, Escudo II, Lingh, OKW Entrigue, Palladio, Rolling Stone, Royal Appearance and Tiamo Trocadero. Twelve (57%) of the foals were named Premium. Winning the colt division was Virginia Tech's own Landmark VT , by international dressage star Lingh , and out of the Premium mare Odet II* , by Jorn. His overall score of 8.4 included a score of 8.7 for movement. Prior to his inspection, Landmark VT had been shown by VT students to wins in the Colts of 2008 and ISR/OLDNA classes at Dressage at Lexington, where he earned an incredible 85.6% from Judge Lilo Fore, and went on to claim Reserve Champion Colt and Reserve Champion Young Horse titles. At Dressage at Devon, Landmark VT claimed the blue ribbon in the ISR/OLDNA 2&Under class with a score of 80.4% and placed 5 th in the USDF/GAIG Regional Breeders' Colt/Gelding Championships.

Reserve Champion Colt was Tarantino VT (Tiamo Trocadero x Molly Brown*, Mannhattan) with an overall score of 8.3. Also named Premium in the colts' ring were Last Call VT (Lingh x Fast Femme xx , Jovial Turn) , with a final score of 8.2, Rubicon VT (Royal Appearance x Consuela, Contucci) with an 8.2 final score, and Leslie Allen's Royal Alyance (Royal Appearance x My Martina xx, Midway Circle ) .

The fillies were equally impressive, and the high score of 8.5 went to Revlon VT (Royal Appearance x Schoenau*, Schoenfeld) , who impressed the crowd with her 8.7 for movement. Virginia Tech also took Reserve Champion Filly honors with the chestnut Aurora VT (Arrian x Dimple, Diwan) , who earned a 8.4 final score and 8.6 for movement. Third High Filly on the day was Angel Barber's sport pony Nelia (Ballywhim An Luan x Walkabout, Walldorf) , with a 8.3 final score. Other Premium fillies included Royal Hawaiian (Royal Appearance x Hawaiian xx, Fly Till Dawn), an 8.2 filly owned and bred by Jennifer Grover, Regatta VT (Royal Appearance x Homelia H, Caritas), with an 8.2 final score, Tara Frye's lovely Elena (Escudo II x Noblesse, Nebelwerfer) who also earned an 8.2, and Romance (Rolling Stone x Reverse Chance xx, Reverse Pockets), who earned an 8.1 final score and is owned and bred by Angel Barber.

In addition to a wonderful inspection, we were fortunate to host a Young Breeders Clinic in the afternoon and also a stallion approval for Grand Prix rider Lynn Jendrowski's new 6yo stallion GQ Romeo (J Quest/Finesse(Furioso II)/Wendepunkt/Hill Hawk xx) , who earned his CBL with a score of 226.5! The annual inspection is a cornerstone of Virginia Tech's sporthorse breeding program and an important educational event for the local horse community, with detailed programs, food and beverages all provided free of charge. Many heartfelt thanks go to the students, volunteers, faculty and staff involved in hosting such a large event, with special kudos to professional photographer Alice Alley, clerk Katelyn Felts, announcer Morgan Agnew, handlers Rebecca Arnold, Kelli Beavers, John Matthews, Claire McGill and Lindsey Williamson, and of course our judges Ekkehard Brysch and Christian Schacht! As always, Virginia Tech is honored to be a part of the inspection tour, and we are looking forward to 2009!